Hello All - New On The Forum

[gbrad71]

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum.

I was diagnosed about two and half years ago with Celiac disease by my primary care physician, she acutually did three blood tests and all came back positive. I had severe joint pain so she sent me to a Rhumatologist and I just finished with him after all this time. He keep me on pain medication until last month, this was my decision to stop. I was in total denial at first and just keep eating like I normally do, and then I would get the feeling as if every joint in my body was slowy being squeezed by a vice, to the point of tears. Gut was hurting so bad, I could barely touch it, but I would just take the pain pills the doctor gave me and I would be okay, until of course they wore off, and then you repeat the viscious cycle of taking another pill to make the pain go away, then running out, making another appointment with the doctor to get more meds, waiting three hours to see the doctor when you get there, going to get the prescriptions and waiting in line forever at the drug store. I just go so tired of this and tired of feeling like I had been run over by a Mack truck everyday so I just stopped, cold turkey, eating wheat, rye and barley about a month ago and have no pains. It took a week of pure torture (withdrawal) coming of the meds. but I suffered through it, so now being off the bread and the pills I am starting to feel great again. I have been taking this very, very serious, mostly researching the net and this is how I came across the forum. This diet is so difficult to maintain, seems like all the foods out there that are easy to just pop in your mouth without little prep time have gluten in them. I have to get used to this, when I am hungry I want to eat, and not spend an hour or more trying to make something. Oh by the way, I have tried some gluten free foods and still felt really bad afterwords, could have been cross contaimanation or the body is extremly sensitive. I live in the Falls Church, VA area, and my girlfreind and I are always looking for great resturants to go to that have gluten free food and new health food stores etc to go to. So if anyone out there is from my area, I would really appreciate your support, who knows, maybe we can all get up together and go to resturants etc.

Looking forward to the forum and speaking with you -

Greg

Diagnosed with lupus 7/04

Decieded it was celiac disease 9/04

Diagnosed with Rhumatoid Arthritis 9/04 (but I think it is the exposure to the bread - I feel fine now)

[Generic]

Greg, welcome to the board. I'm in WA, so I can't offer much support in that way, but this board is full of people. You may want to make a thread saying where you are located and asking if anyone else is around there.

-Laurie

[Ursa Major]

Hi Greg and welcome to these boards. I also had the awful pains, and was on codeine 24 hours a day for years, until I figured out the celiac connection, and then my other intolerances. I don't need any painkillers now, either.

I am glad you're feeling so much better. The problem with the officially gluten-free foods is, that they are very high in starch and sugar for the most part. You may have a problem with starchy foods in general, not just gluteny foods. I sure do. I can't tolerate those foods, either.

I hope you can find some people in your area with celiac disease to do some things with, that would be fun.

[dlp252]

Hello and welcome!!

[johnsoniu]

Hello and welcome!

I'm new here also, but have been around long enough to know you've found a fantastic place for information, support, or just venting.

As for dining out, I know Outback Steakhouse has a gluten free menu, and the one in my area(Indiana) is very accommodating. I think there are a few others, keep searching this forum and you'll find tons of other useful info.

John

Still working on my signature, just figured out how to use my avatar

[Yenni]

Hello and welcome! This is a great board with lots of nice people.

[Lisa]

Hey Greg:

There is a whole crowd from Northern Virginia (my old stopp'in ground). You also have quite a few restaurant choices.

Austin Grill - Alexandria

Blue Iguana - Fairfax

Bonefish Grill - Fairfax

Capitol Grille - McLean

Carrabba's Italian Grille - Reston

Chevy's Frest Mex - Falls Church

Clyde's - Reston - Alexandria - Vienna

Don Poablo's- Alexandria

Flat Top Grill - Arlington

Le Petit Mistral - McLean

Legas Seafood - McLean

Magiano's - McLean

Marco Polo - Vienna

McLean Family Restaurant - duh

Noodles & Co. - Arlington - Fairfax - Vienna

Outback - Everywhere

P.F. Chang's -Fairfax - McLean

Ruth's Chris - Arlington - Fairfax

Shula's Steakhouse - Vienna

Tata thai - Fallss Church

Ted's Montana Grill - Arlington - Alexandria

Tortilla Factory - Herdon

Wheeew.....ALL ARE GLUTEN FRIENDLY, and some have gluten free menus. Enjoy!

[babygirl1234]

welcome

[gbrad71]

Hello and welcome! This is a great board with lots of nice people.

Thanks everyone for the welcome on board, and thank you for lisitng the long list of resturants. Again thanks for the warm welcome. Still hoping to meet/group with people from the NOVA area, so give me a buzz when you have time.

Thanks,

gbrad71

[Lisa]

Start a new thread...."Calling all NOVA Peeps"

That will help.

[happygirl]

There are a few of us.....I am one I've lived here three times now!

Welcome to the board, Greg. Will post more later.

[Susanna]

Greg--here are some instant gluten-free snacks that require no or minimal cooking:

Baby Ruth Bars (and Snickers, and Hershey with almonds, and Reeses peanut butter cups, and Heath Bars, etc.)

Most macaroon cookies

Most meringue cookies

Rice cake with peanut butter

Trail mix

Fresh fruit

Dried fruit

String cheese

Salami

Some beef jerkey (read labels)

Some Zone Bars (Fudge Graham, Chocolate Coconut Crunch, Chocolate Almond Raisin)

Lara Bars

Nuts

Cheetos

Frito corn chips

Most tortilla chips and potato chips

Many Progresso soups (creamy mushroom, chicken and rice, lentil and several others--read labels)

Cold cuts, slice of cheese and a dab of dressing rolled up in a big leaf of lettuce

Puffins cereal and milk (and Fruity Pebbles, and lots of cereals at the health food store)

Hard boiled eggs

Keep a large stock of grab-n-go snacks on hand while you're figuring this out--carry snacks with you so you'll have something to eat when you're out and you're not sure what's OK in a restaurant or at work or at a friend's house--that way you won't go hungry--being hungry is SO isolating feeling. For me, it got much easier after about 6 months--by then, I'd figured out lots of meals to do at home, lunches to pack for work, and how to order in restaurants.

Good luck!

Susanna